Mouse Island, just off the shore of Catawba Island is on the market.
TOLEDO, Ohio — If you’ve ever wanted to buy an island (and you have an extra $5 million burning a hole in your pocket) now might be the time to pull the trigger – especially if you want to stay close to northwest Ohio.
Mouse Island, which sits approximately a quarter of a mile off the north tip of Catawba Island in Lake Erie is officially for sale.
If you’ve ever taken the Miller Ferry to Put-in_Bay, you may have wondered about the mousy little island as you rode past. Now it could be yours.
The seven-acre island, when viewed from above, really does resemble the shape of a mouse taking a swim toward Cleveland with a short tail at its western terminus.
According to the realtor.com description the island offers “breathtaking 360°” views of the lake and “unmatched privacy” – two things one would hope for from a small unoccupied island.
History of Mouse Island
At one time the island was co-owned by Fremont’s favorite son President Rutherford B. Hayes who, according to ShoresAndIslands.com, plunked down money for the island as a private retreat for himself and his family.
The island could even be considered the “Kennebunkport” or “Mar-a-lago” of its day, being referred to as the “Summer White House” due to the amount of time Hayes spent there while he was president.
If you want to make it your vacation home, however, be ready to lay out some cash to make improvements.
The realty listing says there is potential for custom development but doesn’t mention existing amenities – unless mature trees and rocky shorelines count as amenities in your book (which they certainly might).
As you consider whether buying Mouse Island is right for you, you may wonder what the cost is to buy a private island in other – maybe more tropical – parts of the world.
Comparables
Consider these island properties listed on privateislandsonline.com:
White Island, in the Caribbean, is 10 acres. It is just a little bigger than Mouse Island and is also undeveloped. The island boasts white powdery beaches, crystal clear waters, and dramatic topography. Cost to own… $9,500,000.
5 acre Iguana Island in Nicaragua can be yours for less than $500,000. That island even has a three bedroom, two bath turnkey home on it.
600 acre Nail Bay Land in the British Virgin Islands, site of a sugar plantation in the 1800s, will set you back just $6,200,000.
Undeveloped Florida Keys Island is 15 acres. It can be yours for a cost of $3,900,000.
A bit closer to home, the undeveloped 7.5 acre Fishery Island, on Lake Huron, was recently listed for approximately $359,000 and recently sold.
Some things to consider as you decide now is the time to make the plunge into private island ownership in Ohio’s Lake Erie island region.